OLIVER P. M. MILES. Numbered among the enterprising and self-reliant men who are so ably conducting the agricultural interests of Huntington county is Oliver P. M. Miles, proprietor of the Hillside fruit farm, in Jefferson township. He was born August 25, 1864, in Polk township, Huntington county, Indiana, where his earlier years were passed.

His father, Thomas Miles, was born in New York state. He married Hettie A. Keener, a native of Randolph county, Indiana, and for a number of years thereafter lived in Polk township, Huntington county. About 1880 he removed with his family to Jefferson township, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days, his death occurring February 15, 1890, and hers June 18, 1911. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Sarah J., wife of Gilbert Jennings, of Polk township; Evaline, wife of Isaac Eads, of Jefferson township; Oliver P. M., the special subject of this brief biographical sketch; Etta, wife of Martin Spangler. of Michigan; and Ella, wife of William H. Cook, of whom a brief account is given on another page of this volume.

Brought up in Polk township, on a farm, Oliver P. M. Miles obtained his early education in the rural schools, and at the age of sixteen years came with his parents to Jefferson township, which has since been his home. He early began farm work with his father, and finding that occupation congenial to his tastes, as well as profitable, he has continued in it, and when ready to make a permanent location bought his present farm of sixty acres, located on section 16, two miles north, and four miles west of Warren, and twelve miles southwest of Huntington. Mr. Miles is especially interested in the growing of choice fruit, a branch of horticulture in which he has had good success. He has now a choice apple orchard, and a peach orchard of five acres, in which he has eight hundred trees, and intends ere long to have a large part of his farm devoted to the raising of fruit. He also raises registered stock of a good grade, his hogs being a high-grade Poland-China breed.

On January 29, 1889, Mr. Miles was united in marriage with Anna Cook, who was born in Jefferson township, March 9, 1865, a daughter of Nathan and Martha (Mills) Cook, who were married in 1861 in Ohio, and afterwards settled in Huntington county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miles, namely: Velma H., wife of Virgil C. Follis, of Jefferson township; Vernie M.; Harmon W.; Willard M.; and Ormal S. Politically Mr. Miles is a republican, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church.